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Sierra Leone has launched a groundbreaking direct shipping route between Taizhou Port in China and the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown, significantly reducing transit times and enhancing trade efficiency.
The new corridor, which aims to streamline the flow of goods between China and Sierra Leone, was unveiled at a ceremony attended by key officials, including Madam Judith B. Kosseh, Deputy Director General of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), and Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to China, H.E. Abu Bakarr Karim, along with executives from the Chinese logistics company Xiehai Group, which will operate the service.
Madam Kosseh described the new route as a “transformative leap” for Sierra Leone’s trade infrastructure, emphasizing its potential to reduce the shipping time from the traditional 12 weeks to just 5 weeks.
She explained that this reduction would not only speed up the delivery of essential goods, raw materials, and capital equipment but would also help businesses cut costs and improve supply chain reliability. “This is a clear signal of our readiness to serve as a logistics hub for West Africa,” she said.
Ambassador Karim affirmed the importance of the new route as a product of strong diplomatic ties and strategic collaboration between China and Sierra Leone. He expressed confidence that the initiative would help integrate Sierra Leone more deeply into global trade networks.
“This project exemplifies how sustained bilateral cooperation can deliver tangible economic outcomes,” said Karim. “It will reinforce our commitment to harnessing maritime connectivity as a driver of sustainable development.”
The service will be operated by Xiehai Group, a prominent Chinese enterprise specializing in ship transportation and logistics. Company representatives noted that the direct shipping line would offer Sierra Leonean importers faster, more predictable schedules, providing a competitive advantage to manufacturers, traders, and entrepreneurs who rely on Chinese-sourced products.
By ensuring quicker delivery times and more consistent schedules, the route is expected to boost the competitiveness of Sierra Leonean businesses in both regional and international markets.
The leadership of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) also reaffirmed its commitment to modernizing port operations and fostering international partnerships. “By enhancing our port infrastructure and building international collaborations, we are positioning Sierra Leone as a model of maritime efficiency in the region,” Madam Kosseh stated.
The new shipping route is described as a game-changer for Sierra Leone’s business community, particularly in light of the country’s Medium-Term National Development Plan. This plan focuses on improving the ease of doing business and positioning Sierra Leone as a regional leader in trade and logistics.
